PNDS @ Work: Clinical Competencies and Job Descriptions

AORN Journal, Oct, 2006 by Elisabeth Craig

PNDS @ Work: Clinical Competencies and Job Descriptions

Susan V. M. Kleinbeck 2005, 64 pages $15 member/$19 nonmember softcover

This book is one in a series of five that describes how the Perioperative Nursing Data Set (PNDS) vocabulary can be used in everyday perioperative nursing practice and adapted for use in any facility. The PNDS is described as a dictionary of terms or a universal language relating specifically to all phases of perioperative nursing practice from preadmission to discharge. The PNDS offers nurses a way to demonstrate their competency to practice and their contributions to patient outcomes using a language that is recognized, computerized, and standardized. The widespread use of this language in perioperative settings could improve the overall delivery of care and provide additional standardization for the education of perioperative practitioners. This how-to guide is an asset to understanding and incorporating the PNDS vocabulary into the perioperative nursing arena.

This book is aimed at perioperative nurse educators and department managers. It illustrates how the PNDS can be used to successfully reflect patient outcomes in competency statements and job descriptions for perioperative nurses. The PNDS offers a valid framework to establish evidence-based patient outcome competencies along with measurable and observable interventions to demonstrate those competencies. Examples of competency statements using PNDS outcomes and PNDS interventions in perioperative job descriptions are provided. Five steps are outlined for implementing a competency program, including how to

* determine clinical competency components,

* integrate the PNDS into the competency program,

* develop competency documentation,

* train the validators, and

* establish a systematic calendar for validation.

The PNDS terms are codified, which allows for an easy method of measurement. The author also suggests choosing the most important competencies or those associated with the greatest risk and limiting the competency assessments to approximately eight to 16 per year in order to avoid a burdensome process. Using the PNDS vocabulary to write job descriptions ensures that they are an accurate reflection of nursing skills. In addition, PNDS interventions can be computerized, making evaluations easier.

The book is written in a well-organized, how-to format and is filled with charts and brightly colored pictures. Although the pictures often are distracting and not clearly relevant to the content, the charts are excellent tools for illustrating how to apply the PNDS to specific policies, competencies, and job descriptions. The layout of the book also is distracting, with sentences and paragraphs often interrupted by charts and pictures. Overall, however, this book is a helpful reference for building the PNDS language into perioperative practice.

This book is available from AORN, 2170 S Parker Road, Suite 300, Denver, CO 80231.

ELISABETH CRAIG

RN, BSN, CNOR

Staff nurse and quality assurance

coordinator

Saline Memorial Hospital

Benton, Ark